Parachute signal



Nov. 21,1939. J. B. DECKER PARACHUTE SIGNAL I Filed April 13, 1938 New.Eli, 1939 rcnn'rn SIGNAL Application April 13, 1938, Serial No. 201,818

7 Claims.

and parachute during its initial flight into the air so that it will notdrop at a dangerous speed.

An important feature of the invention con- 15 sists in the arrangementof the cable which suspends the projectile casing from the parachutelanyards whereby it is readily and securely attached to this casing.

Another feature of the invention resides in 3a the p of the casingsupporting cable through the base of the casing and looping the sameabout an extension of the base whereby attachment is obtained withoutweakening of any of the parts or without requiring soldering, welding orthe like.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be moreapparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accomiwdrawing and following specification as wherein are disclosed severalexemplary ements thereof with the understanding that such changes andvariations may be executed therein as fall within the scope of theappended cl without departing from the spirit of the g invention.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through a parachute signal ofthe fixed ammunition type intended to be fired from a hand fire 443 am,constructed according to thepres'ent invention;

e 2 is a similar view of a, Stokes mortar type of parachute signalintended for firing to considerable ranges from a mounted mortar;

as e 3 is a view showing the signal and projectile c suspended from ,aparachute; and

"z dis a fragmentary section on line 4-6 of Figure 2 showing the mannerof securing the cable.

In the use of pyrotechnic signals such as colcred lights, flares, smokepots and the like, for aerial display, particularly for military andnaval purposes, the requirement for sturdy construc- 55 non,watarprooiness; and the like dictates a fairly heavy and usually metalcasing comprisin the projectile which is fired into the air carrying thepyrotechnic and its suspending parachute. .These-parts are ejected fromthe casing near the zenith of its flight by means of the 5 suitableejecting charge which serves also to ignite the pyrotechnic. If theparachute and its signal are thrown free of the projectile shell orcasing, this casing falls with considerable velocity, and if used overinhabited areas or where maneuvers are taking place, there is gravedanger of injury to persons or objects below on which this casing mayfall at the considerably augmented velocity due to the effect ofgravity.

It has heretofore been proposed to support the 16 shell from aparachute-which may be a separate -one or that usedto carry thepyrotechnic signal during its burning period. Dimculty, however, hasbeen experienced in conveniently attaching a suspending cord or cable tothe casing in a 2Q manner adequate to withstand the strain of stoppingthe casing from its considerable velocity relative to the parachuteimparted by the ex- 1 pelling charge.

Most military types of signals use aluminum casings, the main portion ofwhich is quite thin so that the supporting cord which is usually a smallflexible metal cable cannot readily be attached. Solder does not adherewell to aluminum nor to steel, and welding on the thin aluminum isdificult without damage thereto. In accordance with the presentinvention, it is proposed to pass this cord or cable outwardly throughthe heavy base of the shell, to provide a loop in the end thereof and topass this loop overa s5 tube or post projecting rearwardly beyond thebase. Since this post forms a rigid part of the projectile and issubsequently capped, the loop is prevented from becoming displaced andprovides a secure attachment for the cable.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Figure 1, there isshown a form of signal cartridge described and claimed in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 195,403 for Signal flare, filed March 11, 1938.This type of ,ammunition is intended for use in a large pistol of thesci-called Very type having a barrel arranged for muzzle loading toreceive the short cartridge case l0, carrying the percussion cap II.This cartridge case closely receives and holds the stem 12 appropriatelysecured to the heavy base Id of the projectile shell I. A compartment l5closed by a fiber cap near the bottom 01 the stem carries a propellingcharge for driving the projectile out of the cartridge casing andpistol, and this charge is ignited from the percussion cap which alsoignites the delay fuse l6 arranged in the central tube l'l formedintegral with the heavy base 13 of the cartridge case. This delay fuseignites the expelling charge It at a predetermined interval after thefiring of the percussion cap.

Within the loading chamber of the projectile shell I4 is arranged -flrstand closest to the bottom the pyrotechnic signal or candle 20 which maybe a colored or white flare, smoke pot or the like and may be providedin multiple if desired. Above this is the flame stop washer 22 servingto prevent the ignition of the parachute 23, loaded in the upper end ofthe chamber, by sparks or flames from the expelling charge orpyrotechnic. The pyrotechnic is ignited by the burning of the expellingcharge.

The lanyards 25 of the parachute are brought to a single knot 26 towhich is attached a noninflammable cord 21 which passes through oraround the edge of the flame stop washer 22 and is attached in any wellknown manner, not shown, to the upper head of the cup of the pyrotechniccandle 20. Asecond and preferably wire cable 28 is also secured in theknot 26, leads around the edge of the washer 2-2, closely beside theflare 20 and between it and the wall of the cartridge case M and isflnally passed through the inclined hole 30 in the base I3. This lowerend is arranged to prevent it from passing back through the hole. It maybe provided with a large knot, but preferably is secured into a loop 3|by knotting, twisting, welding, brazing, splicing, or the like, whichloop is passed around the central post or tube I'I, before completeassembly of the stem l2, permanently securing the cable to the cartridgecase. The partition 32 secured over the end of this post when the stemI2 is applied to the main portion of the cartridge case prevents anypossibility of accidental removal of the loop. If essential, suitableluting may be used to close the space between the cable and the walls ofthe hole 30 to prevent the possibility of the passage of flame from thepropelling charge to the expelling charge.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 2 is a shell for theso-called Stokes or trench mortar, adapted to be dropped into-the muzzlethereof and to fall by gravity through the length of the elevated barrelso that the percussion cap 40 in the base of the shell strikes thefiring pin permanently mounted in the breech of the mortar. Thispercussion cap is mounted in a tubular extension 4| from the main heavybase 42 of the cartridge case which has the'iorward loading chamberdefined by the thin tubular shell 49 integral with the base 42. Thepropelling charge 40' is ignited from the percussion cap and blows outsections of the lead washer 44 so that the gases issue through theopenings 45 to discharge the projectile from the mortar, the wholeassembly shown being thrown from the gunand therefore having even moreweight than the lighter cartridge case of Figure l.

The percussion cap 40 ignites the delay fuse 45 which sets ofi theexpelling .charge 41 near the top of the trajectory of the shell.

The explosion of the charge 41 lights and ejects the several pyrotechnicsignals 48 which are attached by a heavy asbestos cord 49 to theparachute- 50 loaded in the outer end of the casing. The cord 49 is ofcourse attached in the knot 5| which gathers the lowerends of thelanyards 52 to ether.

The cord 49 as shown in Figure 3 preferably passes through the flamestop washer 54 and below this washer a swivel 55 is attached. From thisa second asbestos cord 56 leads to the several pyrotechnic signals 48 asshown.

Also issuing from the knot 5| is the metal cable 58 which passes aroundthe edge of the washer 54 a down beside the signals 48 and through thediagonal hole 59 in the base 42 to terminate in a loop 60, best shown inFigure 4, surrounding the tube 4| from which it is prevented from beingdisplaced by the cup 6| scewed onto the base of the projectile andforming the container for the explosive charge. Suitable means, aspreviously described, may be resorted to to prevent premature ignitionof the expelling charge directlyfrom the propelling charge.

Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 2 after being expelled from theshell and as it is falling through the air suspended from the parachute.Except for the slightly different configuration of the parts, this viewis equally as representative of the structure of Figure 1, under thesame conditions.

The extended parachute 5D suspendsthe burning signals by the means ofthe lanyards 52, the knot 5|, the cord 49, swivel 55, and cord 56.Likewise, from the knot 5| the cable 58 carries the cartridge case orshell 43. The lengths of the cable and cords are such that the flaresdepend below the cartridge case so that it'does not cast a shadow orobscure the light therefrom.

Obviously, various arrangements of the cords, cables, swivels and thelike may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Itwill be seen in the arrangement of Figure 3 that the washer separatesthe cord 56 from the cable 58 and prevents interference. It may be foundthat a somewhat larger parachute than customary will be necessary tocarry the additional weight of the cartridge case and still suspend thesignals for the desired period of time.

In the case of the device of Figure 1, the loop of the cable is out ofcontact with any burning explosive, being arranged in the expansionchamber between the tube I! and the stem l2. The loop of Figure 2 is notso favorably situated, but can be made of adequate size and appropriatemateral so that there is no possibility of its melting or burning oilfrom the type of explosive used in that form of projectile.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A signal projectile including, in combination, a casing having aclosed base, a pyrotechnic signal and parachute housed in said casing,means to eject the casing contents, lanyards on said parachute, acordfor supporting said signal from said lanyards and cable means forsupporting said casing from said lanyards, said cable means passingthrough the base of said casing, and including a loop outside of saidbase said loop encircling a portion of the base of reduced diameter.

2. A signal projectile including, in combination a casing having aclosed base, a pyrotechnic signal and parachute housed in said casing,means to eject the casing contents, lanyards on said parachute, a cordfor supporting said signal from said lanyards and cable means forsupporting said casing'from said lanyards, said base having an openingtherethrough, said cable means passing from said lanyards'within thecase and through.

said opening and including means outside of said opening.

3. A signal projectile including, in combination,

a casing having a closed base, a pyrotechnic signal and parachute housedin said'casing, means to eject the casing contents, lanyards on saidparachute, a cord for supporting said signal from said lanyards andcable means for supporting said casing from said lanyards, said basehaving a rearwardly projecting. portion of reduced diameter and anopening adjacent thereto, said cable means passing through said openingand including a loop on: the outer end thereof, said loop being fittedover said portion.

4. A signal projectile including, in combination, a casing having aclosed base, a pyrotechnic signal and parachute housed in said casing,means to eject the casing contents, lanyards on said parachute, a cordfor supporting said signal from said lanyards and a cable for-supportingsaid casing from said lanyards, said base,having a rearwardly projectingportion of reduced diameter and an opening adjacent thereto, said cablepassing throughsaid opemng and including a loop on the outer endthereof, said loop being fitted over said portion, and means on saidportion to retain said loop in position thereon.

5. Signal ammunition including, in combination, a short cartridge case,a projectile casing having a loading chamber closed by a heavy base, atube extending rearwardly from said base, a stem sleeve extendingrearwardly from said base, spaced radially from said tube and closelyfitting said cartridge case, a hole through said base between the tubeand sleeve, a flare and aparachute in said loading chamber, a cord fromsaid parachute to said flare to support the frame in the air afterfiring, a cable-from said parachute passing through said hole, saidcable being formed into a loop surrounding said tube, a propellingcharge loaded in said stem and a partition bi.-

tween said charge and loop and surrounding said tube. -ii

6. Signal ammunition of the Stokes mortar type including, incombination, a projectile casing having a loading chamber closed by aheavy base, a pyrotechnic signal and parachute loaded in said casing, atube extending rearwardly from said base, a hole in the base adjacentsaid tube,

a cord connecting the parachute and signal, a cable extending from theparachute through said hole,and being looped about said tube and acharge containing cup secured over the said tube and'base to retain theloop in position.

7. Signal ammunition comprising a projectile casing having a loadingchamber closed by a heavy base, a pyrotechnic signal in said chamberadjacent said base, a fire stop washer covering said signal, a parachutein said casing above said washer, lanyards on said parachute, anon-inflammable cord extending from said lanyard through said washer andbeing secured to said signal, a cable extending from said lanyards pastsaid washer and signal and through said base, means to prevent thereturn of the cable through the base, said cord and cable being of suchlengths that the signal is suspended below the casing when it and theparachute are expelled from the casing, said washer maintaining the cordand cable separated. v

JOSEF B. DECKER.

